Matt Maples Photography and Writing

We love our internship program here at Tall Ships America. Since we have such a small office and work together closely, it is wonderful to have a few interns every summer to blow in and shake things up. They keep our lives interesting and, in turn, we give them a summer filled with long days, sailing adventures, and an opportunity to become a part of the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE(r) fleet. It’s been pretty great, and our interns will always be considered a part of the Tall Ships America team.

Way back in 2007, it was my second year doing the internship program and we were preparing for a summer along the Atlantic Coast. In a fit of extreme bonding, we decided that we would pile everyone in the car and drive down to Charleston, SC, the first port of call that summer, from Newport, RI. Matt Maples, a fresh-faced intern, recent college grad, just off the plane from Chicago and a tall ship enthusiast, was part of that group. He had minimal sailing experience but was incredibly passionate about writing, photography and tall ships (especially the ships).

Jump forward five years and he is an accomplished sailor having sailed to Antarctica, across the Atlantic, through the Panama Canal, and points in between. Along the way, he has written about his adventures and taken gorgeous photos of life on land and at sea. I highly recommend going to his brand spanking new website, Matt Maples Photography and Writing and see what this talented photographer/writer/sailor has to offer. Matt truly has a gift of not only capturing the beauty of a tall ship, but also life aboard the ship and what it means to be a part of the crew. We couldn’t be more proud to support him in all of his endeavors.